Manila: The Philippines is bracing for one of the strongest storms of the year as Typhoon Fung-Wong, locally known as “Goring,” advances toward the country’s eastern seaboard. The state weather bureau, PAGASA, has issued multiple warnings for destructive winds, torrential rainfall, and storm surges reaching up to five meters, potentially endangering millions across coastal and low-lying regions.
According to PAGASA meteorologist Benison Estareja, Fung-Wong is an “enormous weather system,” spanning nearly 1,500 kilometers in diameter a breadth that already engulfs much of the eastern Philippines with squalls, heavy rain, and strong winds. As of Saturday morning, the typhoon was packing sustained winds of about 140 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 170 km/h. Meteorologists warn that it could intensify further, potentially achieving super-typhoon status with sustained winds of 185 km/h before landfall.
The weather bureau has cautioned that the combination of high winds and torrential rain could produce widespread flooding, landslides, and power disruptions, especially in mountainous and deforested areas. The agency advised immediate precautionary measures, noting that even regions outside the direct path could experience destructive impacts due to the typhoon’s massive size.
The first areas expected to experience the full force of the storm include the Bicol region and the Samar provinces, where rainfall totals could exceed 200 millimeters in the coming 24 hours. Residents in these coastal and low-lying communities have been urged to evacuate to higher ground as authorities warn of potentially deadly storm surges and rapid flooding. Northern and central Luzon provinces may also experience rainfall between 100 and 200 millimeters as the storm moves inland, raising the risk of river overflow and landslides.
PAGASA has emphasized the urgent need to suspend marine activities in the eastern and central Philippines. Fishing boats, ferries, and cargo vessels have been advised to remain docked due to the hazardous sea conditions expected to worsen as the storm nears.
Local governments have begun preemptive measures, suspending classes and work in vulnerable regions. The national flag carrier and other airlines have canceled several domestic flights to and from Visayas and Luzon regions. Disaster-response units are on standby, and emergency shelters are being prepared across multiple provinces.
Electric utilities have issued alerts about possible outages due to falling trees and toppled transmission lines, while local authorities have mobilized rescue teams and relief supplies in anticipation of mass evacuations.
The looming disaster comes just weeks after Typhoon Kalmaegi battered parts of the Philippines and Vietnam, killing hundreds and displacing tens of thousands. The recurrence of back-to-back major storms has reignited concerns about the escalating intensity of tropical cyclones in the western Pacific, a phenomenon many scientists link to climate change and rising sea temperatures.
Experts warn that the Philippines, situated in the world’s most active typhoon corridor, faces mounting risks as storms grow stronger and more erratic. The increasing frequency of high-category storms like Fung-Wong underscores the urgent need for improved coastal defenses, disaster planning, and climate adaptation strategies.
Authorities continue to urge citizens to heed evacuation orders, avoid riverbanks and landslide-prone areas, and stay tuned to official advisories. Emergency communication systems have been activated, with continuous updates from national and local agencies.
As the nation braces for Typhoon Fung-Wong’s landfall, the coming hours will test both the resilience of communities and the readiness of disaster-response systems. For the Philippines a country that endures an average of 20 typhoons a year this storm is another stark reminder of its vulnerability in the face of a rapidly warming world.